Bees have been in the media spotlight recently due to their declining populations and the huge implication that their dwindling numbers are having on food production. Due to this, reports have claimed that beehives are now disappearing at an alarmingly rapid rate, which is largely due to pesticides and mites, as well as climate change.
As people are recognizing the seriousness of the issue, many are trying their best to help by keeping their own beehives, which is a surprisingly simple, but very effective, task to carry out. Not only will it help declining bee populations, but it will also mean that you can produce your own organic honey for your personal consumption.
All that you will need is a pre-made bottom beehive kit, plywood, and some jars for the main beehive, along with: one piece of 2″ x 12″ x 6′ wood (cut two pieces to 22″ each for the sides); one piece of 2″ x 12″ x 6′ wood (cut two pieces to 18″ each for the front and back); one piece of 1″ x 1″ x 6′ wood (cut two pieces to 22″ each for the top frame’s left and right sides); one piece of 1″ x 1″ x 6′ wood (cut two pieces to 18″ each for the top frame’s front and back sides); one piece of thick plywood cut to 16″ x 20″; 12 big mouth quart-sized jars for the honeycomb; one box of 1″ wood screws; one can of any dark wood stain; and, of course, your bees.
The plywood will act as a frame for the beehive kit and therefore can be stained however you choose. 12 holes should then be drilled into the 16″ x 20″ piece of plywood which should be big enough to screw the mason jars into.
Following this, the top frame can be made by screwing together the four pieces of 18″ and 22″ plywood, which can also be stained any colour.
Following this, sanitize each of the 12 mason jars before twisting them upside-down into the holes, before adding washers or shims inside the jars to support the weight of the honey that will be there later. After the lids of the jars have been screwed on, they should fit perfectly into the drilled holes with less than a 1/16″ gap between the jar and the beehive hole.
After placing starter strips or empty combs inside the jars, you can now add your bees. They will immediately become attracted to the comb, and start their work making the honey. Once the jars are full of honey, you can twist the lids on, so that the bees will keep working whilst the honey is being harvested.
You will notice that the jars will heat up quickly when the lids are on, due to there being no ventilation. Therefore, they need to be kept in the shade.
Once you have the basic supplies, the rest should come easily, providing you with a constant supply of delicious honey, whilst ultimately saving a rapidly declining population.
H/T: Angie Barnes from Boredom Therapy
“This DIY Beehive Could Help Save The Bees And Its Going Viral” by Jess Murray Truth Theory is licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0
6 thoughts on “This DIY Beehive Could Help Save The Bees And Its Going Viral”
Emily
(July 15, 2019 - 12:37 pm)How does this benefit the bees? This strategy appears to be all about getting bees to make honey for a selfish human, and nothing about the welfare of the bees.
An expert beekeeper says (abbreviated) “If we DO want to help bees, we need to plant more plants, shrubs and trees; stop using all pesticides; and lobby governments to do more for pollinators….
NOT put honeybees in jam jars and take their precious honey”
Fiona
(July 16, 2019 - 10:20 pm)Interesting to read thank you
Leah
(October 12, 2019 - 11:26 pm)This is awesome! Just once concern about the glass. Wouldn’t they basically just cook as it heats up in the sun?
Tina Taylor
(October 15, 2019 - 4:17 pm)Exactly does this help bees? You explain how to make it but not how it helps. Please explain. I do not keep bees and am not an expert but I am studying for the day I am finally able to get bees. I fear you may be misleading many starter bee keepers into something that can potentially harm bees. When a hive gets to hot, the bees fan their wings to promote air flow through the hive, the jars can prevent proper air flow. I also think that condensation can form at the top of the jars as moisture content rises and cause further issues. There are a lot of people who want a proper explanation and proof that this actually works.
Dan Perrine
(October 17, 2019 - 2:59 pm)I like this idea and would like to build one but am confused about some of the details. Is there a more comprehensive explanation of it available somewhere?
Dan
(October 17, 2019 - 3:00 pm)The article clearly states they need to be in the shade.